Rechargeable electric fuse.



A. SCHIPPER.

I RECHARGEABLE ELECTRIC FUSE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, 15114.

Patented DCC. 22. 1914.

Mae/5%@ ADRIAN SCHIPPER, or oennu, Uren.

RECHARGEABLE ELECTRIC W SE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

lFatentenl Dec. 22, 19M.

Application led January 16, 1914. Serial No. 812,526.

` To aZZ whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, ADRIAN SCHIPPER. citizen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, residing at Ggden, in the county of lVeber and State of Utah, have invented certain neu7 and useful Improvements in Rechargeable Electric Fuses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved and simplified rechargeable electric fuse.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive, simple and efficient fuse in which the fusible conductor can be quickly and readily replaced by a second conductor of the'same predetermined carrying capacity.

A further object of theinvention contemplates the provision of. means in the nature of a resilient fusible conductor or strip. whereby a perfect contact is at all times insured; the degree of contact being variable by adjustment of the terminal contacts or caps employed in connection with the improved device.

The invention still further resides inthe provision of a properly venti-lated rechargeable electric fuse wherein means is provided for the ultimate escape of inevitable smoke and gas occasioned by the burning of the combustible fuse; this construction eliminating all reasonable possibility of a bursting fuse shell made possible by improper ventilation of the device.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated inl their preferred embodiment'in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then moreparticularly pointed out in vthe claim which is-appended hereto and forms a part of this application.

In describing my invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:-

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View -of an improved rechargeable electric fuse constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is an end View;l Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l; Fi 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. l; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the terminal caps or contacts; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional View of one of the shell supporting terminal caps; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the shell; and Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the fusible conductor, the dotted lines indicating the fuse formation, when in use.v

Referring now to the drawings by numeral, l designates, as an entirety, the usual tubular or cylindrical shell, in the present instance of any suitable insulating material. The terminals of thev shell l are exterior-ly threaded as at 2 to provide for the reception of terminal caps 3, interiorly threaded, and having concentric elongated openings 4- formed therein, the openings of the said cap being alined. Outer terminal caps or contacts 5 have been provided, the said caps being interiorly threaded as at 6 to provide for the arrangement of the said contacts over the caps 3 above referred to, the said caps 3 being exteriorly threaded as at 7 to render adjustment of the contacts 5 optional according to the degree of contact desirable, this contact variation being effected in a manner to be hereinafter fully described. Asbestos, or other non-combus- .tible packing is inclosed within the shell l` the fusible conductor or strip S'being surrounded thereby. The terminals of the conductor 8 project eXteriorly of the caps 3 `through the openings 4 formed therein,

from which arrangement, it is apparent that the said terminals may be set at an angle by reason of the forced engagement of the contacts 5 therewith. The Jfusible conductor 8, being resilient, it is further apparent that the degree of contact between the said conductor and the contacts 5 may be varied by the adjustmentof the latter upon the exteriorly threaded terminal caps 3.

Provision has beenl made for the escape of smoke and gas from the interior of the fuse, after a burning of the conductor 8. With this in view, the openings 4 of the terminal caps 3 are enlarged as at 9 to open communication between the interior of the shell 1 and the exterior of the said caps 3. The escape the fuse 8l, the said lining forming a protecting element for the Yshell l when the fuse burns out. This lining is particularly adaptable in using the fuse as a'conductor of electricity of -high voltage. blades 1l may be formed integrallywith the contacts 5 for an obvious purpose.

To replace the fusible conductor, the same having been destroyed by an excessive current, the terminal caps or contacts 5 are first removed so that the caps 3 may be unscrewed and the burnt fuse withdrawn fromv teriorly of the caps 3, which are threaded upon the shell, through the openings 4 formed therein. Previous to the arrangement of the caps over the extremities of the shell, the packing or non-combustible material is replaced.l The contacts 5 are then threadedupon the caps 3 until forced into engagement with the terminals of the conductor 8, whereupon a continued turning of the said contacts will cause the said conductor terminals to be -bent asindicated in Fig. 1 of the .drawings to thereby render posi-l tive the engagement between the said contacts and the' said fuse. .W'hen thus arranged, it is apparent that proper ventilation is made possible by the provision of the enlarged openings 9 and the openings 10.

From the above, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings it will be noted that the degree of contact between the fuse 8 and the contacts or caps 5 is variable by the adjustment of the latter upon the terminal caps 3; that the' terminal caps 3 serve, notonly asa support for the conductor 8, but also as retaining elements for the contacts 5, the latter being threaded thereupon; and

that by theprovision of the structure above recited, the recharging of an electric fuse if desired,

lin presencevof is made not only possible but practical, as the cost of manufacture of a fuse construct# ed as above disclosed is reduced to what is thought'to be, the minimum.

It will be understood that the above de- 'vantages of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what l claim aslnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

In a rechargeable electric fuse, an outer shell, a' fusible conductor arranged concentric to the shell, an eXteriorly and interiorly threaded cap engageable with each shell eX-y tremity, each cap having a slot like opening formed therein through whichthe respective terminals of the conductor extend, the openings of the cap being of a size approximately that of the conductor in cross section, each opening being enlarged to provide an outlet opening for the resulting smoke subsequent to a burningv of the fuse, interiorly threaded terminal, contacts in cap fornr adjustable relatively to the terminal caps aforesaid, said contacts being movable relatively to each other and into and out of contact with the respectiveconductor terminals, the latter being in' yieldable frictional contact therewith, an extension integral with each terminal contact, each contact having a plurality ofoutlet openings formed therein out of registry with the outlet opening of the cap aforesaid, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature two witnesses; ADRIAN SCHIPPER.

Witnesses :l

- WILLIAM A. SCHIPPER, LUELLA N. SAWYEB. 

